Laser trainer cartridge with multiple support structures

ABSTRACT

A laser trainer cartridge fits into a gun barrel and includes a backer, circuit and a laser. When the firing pin of the gun is activated it strikes the backer, which contacts the circuit and activates the laser. The laser trainer cartridge has a plurality of spaced-apart O-rings to keep it positioned properly in a gun barrel. The O-rings are configured to be positioned in a particular-sized gun bore. Multiple laser trainer cartridges, wherein each has different-sized O-rings to fit different caliber guns, may be provided as a kit.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/955,440 entitled LASER TRAINER TARGET, filed on Dec. 1, 2015, whichclaims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 13/353,165 entitled LASERTRAINER CARTRIDGE, filed on Jan. 18, 2012 and U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/433,902 entitled LASER TRAINER CARTRIDGE AND LASERTRAINER TARGET, filed on Jan. 18, 2011, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to firearm training systems that do notrequire live ammunition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional firearm training can be dangerous, expensive (consideringthe prices for ammunition and replacement targets) and can only beperformed in certain areas, such as shooting ranges. The presentinvention allows firearm training to be performed safely, inexpensively,and almost anywhere without the use of live ammunition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A laser trainer cartridge (or “laser cartridge” or “cartridge”)according to various aspects of the invention is configured to fitinside the chamber (or bore) of a firearm and includes a firing-pinactivated switch to emit a laser light to indicate where a bullet wouldstrike. Among other things, the laser trainer cartridge providesrealistic firearms training, preferably allowing a user to practice tap,rack, bang and malfunction drills. The laser training cartridge can beconfigured to operate with essentially any desired firearm of anycaliber.

The cartridge is preferably cylindrical with a cylindrical outersurface. A plurality O-rings comprised of compressible material arepositioned on the outer surface of the cartridge, entirely or partiallyaround the cartridge, in order to center the cartridge snugly in thebarrel of a gun. A kit of the cartridges may be provided wherein thereis a different sized cartridge/O-ring combination for different calibersof guns (and the cartridges may all be the same size, with differentO-rings for different gun calibers). Alternatively, a kit may include asingle cartridge and different-sized O-rings, wherein each differentsized O-ring or set of O-rings is sized to fit a particular caliber ofgun. In that case, one or more O-rings can be positioned on thecartridge to enable the cartridge/O-ring combination to fit a particularcaliber gun, and the O-ring(s) could be changed so the cartridge/O-ringcombination would fit a different caliber gun.

Also disclosed is a sheath that may be used to fit a cartridge snuglyinto a gun bore. The sheath is preferably a hollow tube that receivesand retains the cartridge. This can be accomplished in any suitablemanner, such as by (1) the sheath having internal structures, such asflexible members, that retain the cartridge, (2) the sheath being shapedto retain the cartridge, or (3) the cartridge having an externalstructure, such as one or more of the previously described O-rings,which in this case would cause the cartridge to fit snugly inside thesheath.

The sheath has one or more O-rings positioned on its exterior surfacethat enable it to be fit snugly into the bore of a gun. A kit couldcontain a single cartridge and multiple sheaths. Each of the multiplesheaths preferably would have essentially the same interior diameter andeach could receive and retain the single cartridge, and at least some(or all) of the sheaths would have different-sized O-rings on theirexterior surface. Therefore, different sheaths would fit snugly in gunshaving different bore sizes. In this manner, a single cartridge can beused with guns having different, respective bore sizes by changing thesheath.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-4 are perspective views of exemplary laser trainer cartridges ofdifferent sizes, wherein each is configured to fit in a differentcaliber firearm.

FIG. 5 depicts the laser trainer cartridge of FIG. 1 that is partiallydisassembled.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the laser trainer cartridge of FIG.1 positioned inside the barrel of a firearm.

FIG. 7 is an exploded, perspective view of a laser trainer cartridge inaccordance with FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 8 illustrates the separate components of a laser trainer cartridgeaccording to the invention.

FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary circuit that may be utilized by the lasertrainer cartridge of the invention.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the top and bottom trace patterns,respectively, on a printed wiring board including the circuit of FIG.12.

FIG. 12 depicts a sheath according to an aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now to the Figures, where the purpose is to describe preferredembodiments of the invention and not to limit same, the laser trainercartridge 10 may be configured to operate in conjunction with firearmsof essentially any desired caliber and regardless of the barrel lengthof the firearm. The only difference between the laser cartridges 10shown in FIGS. 1-4 is their size. Each has the same structure asdescribed herein.

A cartridge 10 according to a preferred embodiment has a size and shapesimilar to a bullet. Cartridge 10 has an exterior surface 12, an opening14 through which light is emitted, a removable backer 4, apertures 16that house adjustment screws 7 that can adjust the position of lasermodule 6 (best seen in FIG. 7) that preferably emits visible, red laserlight. In this embodiment, two O-rings 9 and 11 are positioned ingrooves, or next to ridges, on exterior surface 12, and have an outerdiameter greater than the outer diameter of cartridge 10.

In certain embodiments, a laser trainer cartridge 10 of the invention isconfigured to fit a firearm having a caliber of 9 mm, .32 cal, .38 cal,.40 cal., .44 cal., .45 cal, or .50 cal. The laser trainer cartridge 10may be configured to fit snugly into the firing chamber (or bore) ofessentially any desired firearm. The cartridge 10 is preferablyconfigured so that it fits into the chamber of a gun in the same manneras a bullet.

The cartridge 10 is configured to emit light, which is preferably laserlight, for any desired duration. In one embodiment, a laser trainercartridge 10 includes a laser module 6, which in the preferredembodiment is a visible, red light laser module. In this embodiment, thelaser module 6 activates for 100 milliseconds each time the firing pinstrikes the backer 4 of cartridge 10, although any suitable activationduration can be selected. The laser trainer cartridge 10 is preferablyrimless, so that it is not expelled during dry fire, which can allow fortap, rack, bang or malfunction training drills.

In one embodiment, a hardened rubber plunger (or backer 4) on thecartridge 10 also acts as a built-in snap cap to protect the firing pinof the gun when it strikes the backer 4. Backer 4 is thus pressure fit,or snap fit, into the end of cartridge 10 opposite opening 14 ascartridge 10 is assembled.

The cartridge 10 includes at least one rubber ring, which is preferablyan O-ring, that is pressure fit onto the outer surface 12 of thecartridge 10, and most preferably two rubber O-rings are pressure fitonto surface 12. As shown, two rubber O-rings 9, 11 on the laser trainercartridge 10 help ensure a snug fit in the gun bore. Front O-ring 9 ispositioned on the front portion of cartridge 10, and rear O-ring 11 ispositioned on the back portion of the cartridge 10. Among other things,the O-rings help to prevent the cartridge 10 from falling out of thegun, reduce vibration from the firing pin striking the backer 4, andretain the cartridge 10 in position while in use. The front O-ring 9 andrear O-ring 11 each preferably have a diameter equal to, or greaterthan, the diameter of the bore of the gun. In some embodiments, thefront O-ring 9 and rear O-ring 11 have a diameter of equal to, or up to0.030″ greater than, the diameter of the bore of the gun barrel in whichcartridge 10 is used. The O-rings 9 and 11 may be any size, shape, andconfiguration, and may be formed from any suitable material to allowcartridge 10 to fit snugly in the bore of a firearm and help reducevibration and movement when the backing 4 of cartridge 10 is struck bythe firing pin.

In one embodiment, the laser trainer cartridge is powered by three377-type batteries 5 (shown in FIGS. 7 and 9) that fit in an internalcavity 22 of the laser trainer cartridge 10 to provide power to acircuit 8 (such as the exemplary circuit in FIG. 9), which utilizes4-4.5 V. In this embodiment, the batteries 5 provide enough power forapproximately 3,000 emissions of laser light that simulate a bulletbeing fired.

FIG. 7 depicts an exploded view of an exemplary laser trainer cartridge10 according to various aspects of the invention. In this embodiment,the laser trainer cartridge 10 includes an outer casing formed bycomponents 1 and 2. A backer 4 in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 7 ispositioned at the rear of the cartridge 10 so it can be struck by thefiring pin of the gun when the gun is fired (i.e., when a user pulls thetrigger of the gun). The backer 4 has a first position where it is notin contact with a circuit 8 and a second position where the backer 4contacts the circuit 8. When assembled, backer 4 can be struck by thefiring pin of a gun through opening 2A of body portion 2. When thebacker 4 is struck by the firing pin of the gun, the backer moves fromthe first position to the second position, and the circuit 8 causes thelaser module 6 to illuminate.

The backer 4 may be of any suitable size, shape, and configuration, andmay be formed from any suitable material. In one exemplary embodiment,the backer 4 is formed from urethane. In one embodiment, the materialforming the backer is urethane having a durometer of about 85 Shore A.In alternate embodiments, the backer has a durometer of between about 75and about 95 Shore A.

The batteries 5 are preferably insulated from the body of the cartridge10 by a mylar sleeve 21. The laser module 6 may be of any suitable size,shape, and configuration, and may emit light of any desired shape,intensity, and color.

FIGS. 10-11 depict an exemplary circuitry 100 that may be implemented incircuit 8 of FIG. 10. In this circuitry 100, the backer moving to itssecond position actuates the switch S1, which in turn dischargescapacitor C1 through transistor Q1 in order to cause laser module 6 toilluminate for a predetermined period of time. In this embodiment, thecircuitry 100 in FIG. 9 is implemented using a printed circuit boardhaving the trace diagrams illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. Alternateembodiments of the invention may utilize any other suitable circuit tocause the laser module 6 to illuminate.

The circuitry 100 may be configured to cause the laser module 6 toilluminate for any desired length of time. In one embodiment, the laseris illuminated for between about 7.5 milliseconds (ms) to about 12.5 msper shot, i.e., each time the firing pin contacts the backer 4 ofcartridge 10.

A plurality of different cartridges sized to fit different-sized gunbores may be sold as a kit. Alternatively, a kit may include one or morecartridges of the same or different sizes along with different-sizedO-rings. Each different sized O-ring(s) can be placed on a cartridge inorder to configure it to fit a particular caliber of gun, and O-ring(s)can be removed and replaced with other O-rings in order to change thesize of the gun bore into which the cartridge fits.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a laser trainer cartridge ofthe present invention may be configured to fit into an adapter sheath(or “sheath”) 200. Among other things, the sheath 200 acts as an adapterto allow a laser trainer cartridge 10 to operate in a firearm having adifferent caliber than the laser trainer cartridge 10 itself is designedto operate. For example, a laser trainer cartridge 10 configured to fitin a .32 caliber firearm may be sold as a kit with a plurality ofadapter sheaths 200 that allow the cartridge to be used withlarger-caliber firearms (e.g., .38 caliber, .40 caliber, .44 caliber,etc.).

As shown in FIG. 12, in one embodiment, an adapter sheath 200 has agenerally cylindrical body configured to fit into a particular sizedfirearm. The sheath 200 is preferably at least partially open at bothends to allow the cartridge 10 to be inserted into and retained in thesheath cavity 204, and to allow light from laser module 6 to be emitted,and the firing pin to strike the backing 4 of the cartridge 10.

Adapter sheath 200 preferably includes at least one O-ring on itsexterior surface 202 that has a diameter equal to, or greater than, thediameter of the gun bore into which the sheath 200 is configured to fit.The O-ring for the sheath can be any type of structure as the O-ringspreviously described for cartridge 10.

In one embodiment, a sheath 200 of the present invention includes twoO-rings 9A, 11A; one positioned at either end of sheath 200 in grooves206, and each O-ring 9A, 11A has a diameter equal to, or up to 0.030″greater than, the diameter of the gun bore. As with the O-rings of thecartridge described previously, these O-rings form a snug fit with thegun bore to help prevent the sheath/cartridge combination from fallingout of the firearm, as well as to reduce vibration from the firing pinhitting the back of the cartridge 10 and to retain the sheath/cartridgecombination in place during use.

The cartridge 10 can be retained inside the sheath 200 in any suitablemanner. In one embodiment, the O-rings 9 and 11 of cartridge 10 aresized to interface with the interior surface of the sheath 200 to helpretain cartridge 10 within cavity 204 of sheath 200. In anotherembodiment, the front portion of the sheath includes a lip or narrowedportion that prevents the cartridge 10 from passing through the front ofthe sheath, yet does not occlude or interfere with the light emittedfrom the laser module 6. Any other structure(s) may be used inconjunction with the present invention to retain the laser trainercartridge 10 within the sheath 200.

In some embodiments, the cartridge 10 may be configured to produce asound (e.g., a gunshot sound) when the firing pin strikes the backer.The cartridge may include a speaker or any other suitable device toproduce a sound, and may produce any desired sound.

Having thus described some embodiments of the invention, othervariations and embodiments that do not depart from the spirit of theinvention will become apparent to those skilled in the art. The scope ofthe present invention is thus not limited to any particular embodiment,but is instead set forth in the appended claims and the legalequivalents thereof. Unless expressly stated in the written descriptionor claims, the steps of any method recited in the claims may beperformed in any order capable of yielding the desired result.

1. A laser trainer cartridge comprising a generally cylindrical outercasing, and including a plurality of spaced-apart O-rings on the outercasing, the plurality of O-rings configured to fit snugly within a gunbarrel of a particular diameter; the laser trainer cartridge also having(a) a backer that is configured so as to be struck by a firing pin of agun in which the laser trainer cartridge is positioned when the gun isfired, (b) a circuit, and (c) a laser, wherein the backer has a firstposition wherein it does not contact the circuit and a second positionwherein it contacts the circuit, the backer configured to move from itsfirst position to its second position when it is struck by the firingpin, and the circuit configured to cause the laser to illuminate when itis contacted by the backer.
 2. The laser trainer cartridge of claim 1wherein the backer is comprised of urethane.
 3. The laser trainercartridge of claim 1 wherein the backer has a durometer of between about75 to about 95 Shore A.
 4. The laser trainer cartridge of claim 1wherein the circuit includes a capacitor.
 5. The laser trainer cartridgeof claim 1 that is battery powered.
 6. The laser trainer cartridge ofclaim 5 that includes three batteries.
 7. The laser trainer cartridge ofclaim 1 wherein the laser is activated for between about 7.5 to about12.5 milliseconds when the circuit is contacted by the backer.
 8. Thelaser trainer cartridge of claim 1 wherein the circuit is a 4.5 Vsystem.
 9. The laser trainer cartridge of claim 1 that includes: (a) afront portion and a front O-ring positioned on the front portion, thefront O-ring having an outer diameter equal to or greater than theinterior diameter of the bore of the gun barrel so as to create a snugfit in the gun barrel; and (b) a back portion and a rear O-ringpositioned on the back portion, the rear O-ring having an outer diameterequal to or greater than the interior diameter of the bore of the gunbarrel so as to create a snug fit in the gun barrel.
 10. The lasertrainer cartridge of claim 9 wherein the front O-ring has a diameter ofbetween the internal diameter of the gun barrel to 0.030″ greater thanthe internal diameter of the gun barrel.
 11. The cartridge laser trainerof claim 9 wherein the rear O-ring has an outer diameter of between theinternal diameter of the gun barrel and 0.030″ greater than the internaldiameter of the gun barrel.
 12. The laser trainer cartridge of claim 1that is dimensioned to be received in either a 9 mm, .32 caliber, .38caliber, .40 caliber, .44 caliber, .45 caliber or .50 caliber gun. 13.The laser trainer cartridge of claim 9 that includes a first annulargroove on the generally cylindrical outer casing, and the first O-ringis received in the first annular groove.
 14. The laser trainer cartridgeof claim 9 that includes a second annular groove on the generallycylindrical outer casing, and the second O-ring is received in thesecond annular groove.
 15. The laser trainer cartridge of claim 9wherein the first O-ring and second O-ring have the same outer diameter.16. The laser trainer cartridge of claim 15 wherein the first O-ring andsecond O-ring have the same inner diameter.
 17. The laser trainercartridge of claim 5 wherein the generally cylindrical outer casing hasan inner cavity and includes one or more batteries in the inner cavity.18. The laser trainer cartridge of claim 17 that further includes aninsulating sleeve, and a wall of the inner cavity, and the insulatingsleeve is between the wall of the inner cavity and the one or morebatteries.